A one-day international seminar on "Tradition of Samvat in India: Distinctiveness and Evidence" was organized on March 15, 2025, by the Jyotisha Department at Maharshi Panini Sanskrit Evam Vedic Vishwavidyalaya, Ujjain, in collaboration with Maharaja Vikramaditya Shodhpeetha.
Addressing the seminar as the special guest, Gordana Nis from Ukraine highlighted the similarities between Ukraine's calendar and the Vedic Panchang. She explained that both calendars are based on the natural cycles of the sun, moon, seasons, and agriculture. Emphasizing global unity, she advocated for a universal calendar and described the Vedas as the source of all knowledge.
The chief guest, Prof. Mangalam Srinivas Shrikant from Tamil Nadu, elaborated on the distinctiveness of the Tamil calendar, noting that multiple Samvats have existed throughout history, each holding unique cultural and historical significance.
In his remarks, Prof. Kedar Narayan Joshi, former Acharya of Vikram University, Ujjain, highlighted that India has over 25 Samvats, including the Vikram Samvat, which is widely followed not only in India but also in other countries.
Delivering the presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vijay Kumar questioned why India continues to follow the Gregorian calendar despite decades of independence. He pointed out that Nepal officially follows the Vikram Samvat, suggesting that India could do the same.
The seminar witnessed participation from scholars, social workers, students, and researchers from Nepal, Ukraine, and various regions across India, fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue on the cultural and historical importance of Samvats.
